Pile feeder



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N VEN TOR.

PILE FEEDER S. S. WATTS ETAL Original Filed July 27 sept. 17, 1963 ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1963 s. s. WATTS ETAL 3,104,100

PILE FEEDER original Filed July 27, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 2 &

1N VEN T0 SHERMAN S. M9775 By FMEA/KL. Kes/*a /c ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1963 s. s. wATTs ETAL PILE FEEDER Original Filed July 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 By FRANK A/,95722K Aw'ofmsy Sept. 17, 1963 s. s. WATTS ETAL.

PILE FEEDER Original Filed July 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ffz' g- 7 INVENTOR. .VIER/VHN S. A697715' By FRANK /ms rn /c ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,104,100 PILE FEEDER Sherman S. Watts, Citrus Heights, Calif., and Frank L. Kastelic, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Harris-Intertype Corporation, Cleveland, Ghio, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of 'application Ser. No. 829,907, July 27, 1959. This application Nov. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 151,214

27 Claims. (Cl. 271-62) This invention relates generally to pile feeding mechanisms `for feeding sheets `one at -a time from the top of a pile to a sheet handling machine. More specifically, it relates to such feeder and the pile support therein.

This application is -a continuation off application Serial No. 829,907, filed July 27, 1959, now abandoned.

The principal objection `of this invention is to automatically position a vertically movable pile supporting platform or plate in la central location lalong one path of adjustment whenever the platform is lowered to receive a new pile of sheets after the previous pile has been fed therefrom.

Another olhject of the invention is to provide such a platform with means for adjusting it sidewise in either direction lfrom a middle position, in which the adjusting means is automatically restored toi -a condition corresponding to the middle position of the platform each time the support is lowered to receive a new pile of sheets.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a platform which is adjustable sidewise, the platform Abeing adapted to be automatically centered with respect toa line of adjustment while lowering into a recess in the iloor and being so positioned in the recess as to present the top of the plat-form or plate ilush with the level of the 4flo or when in the recess.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description in which reference is rnade to the accompanyingr drawings.

According to the invention, la plate which receives a i ile of sheets thereon is adapted to Ibe supporting on a frame which is upwardly movable to maintain the top of the pile at a predetermined level for feeding the sheets one at la time to a sheet handling machine and downwardly movable to receive a new pile cf sheets. The plate is adjustable sidelwise or transversely relative to the supporting frame and according to the present invention is provided with means yfor 'automatically restoring the plate to a sideways central position, preferably when the frame is subsequently lowered to receive a new pile of sheets. in the preferred embodiment, the frame and plate lower into a recess in a floor, with the top level of the plate being level Iwith the 4surface of the floor. Additionally, adjusting means is provided which interconnects the frame and the plate for effecting sidewise adjustment, this means being returned to a predetermined condition corresponding to the sideways centered position of the plate when the plate is sideways centered independent of the adjusting means.

in the drawings:

FIG. l is la fragmentary plan view of a pile supporting plate and frarne constructed according to a preferred form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational vie-W of the frame and plete supporting .a -full pile `of sheets and 'being located within a recess provided therefor in a licor.

FIG. 3 is ya view similar to FIG. 2 in which the frame and plate have Ibeen moved upwardly to position the pile in .sheet feeding position, and is taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a view taken generally along line 4-4 'of FIG. 3 illustrating the adjusting mechanism for the plate, and is on a slightly larger scale than FIG. 3.

3, l @14, l lill Patented Sept. 17, r1963 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of sheet feed and is taken substantially along lines S--S of FIGS. 1 and 2, but on a slightly enlarged scale.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the adjusting mechanism for moving the plate sidewise with respect to the fname.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vielw taken substantially along line '7-7 `of FIG. 6.

l'Referring now to FIG. 1, only those portions of a conventional pile feeder are shown which are necessary to fully illustrate the present invention. For example, the pile feeder may comprise side frame portions 10 -and 11 and a pair of upstanding posts 12 and 13 supporting overhead framework (not shown) extending between the posts and the side frames. Any conventional sheet separating mechanism may operate [on the top of the pile of sheets to remove the sheets one at a time and feed them to the usual pull-in rolls, which in turn transfer them to a sheet handling machine, lsuch for example as a printing press. A pile support 1d- -comprises primarily a plate 15 Aand a frame 16. The plate-15 is substantially liat throughout its length and width and may be notched at its corners as shownin FIG; l for purposes to 'become apparent later. The plate 15 preferably has welded thereto a plurality of legs 17 which are adapted to rest 4on the bottom of a recess 13 (see FIG. 3), whenever the plate 15 is moved to its lowermost limit of travel.

The frame 16 is preferably constructed of a series of steel channels 19, '20, 21, .22 and Z3 which are welded together to provide sufficient rigidity and strength to the frame to support the maximum size and weight pile to fbe handled by the pile feeder. The frame is supported at its four corners by cables 2d, 25, 26 and 27 in the customary manner of pile feeders. 'Fliese cables wind over pulleys (not shown) located on the overhead framework supported between the side frames 10 and 11 and the rear posts 12 and 13, and are wound over ydrums which are adapted to be rotated in directions corresponding to the raising Iand lowering of the frame. Any conventional pile raising mechanism and control therefor may be utilized.

The plate 15 is adapted to be Lmoved sidewise or transversely to the direction of feed of sheets and 'with respect to the frame 16. To permit this sidewise adjustment, a plurality of lrollers 28 having their axes extending in the direction of sheet feed are mounted (between 'adjacent channels 19, 21 or 22. The rollers are adapted to support the plate 15 at its underside whenever the plate 15 has its leg-s 17 removed from the bottom of the recess 18. The plate is therefore supported solely by the rollers 28 when normally feeding sheets from the top of the pile. A plurality of follower rollers 29 'are carried thy the plate 15 and `are adapted to engage the inner sides of channels 19 and 21 to guide the plate 115 during sidewise adjustment and prevent its cooking with respect to the frame 16.

The frame 16 is `guided during its upward and downward travel ,and prevented from moving sidewise with respect to the pile feeder by guide plates 30 and 31 which move vertically in slots 32 and 33 in the side frames 10 and 11. It will be seen by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 that the slots 32 and 33 are vertical except for certain portions in the recess 18. A pair of brackets 34 lare mounted in the recess 18 and form lower offset extensions of the slots 32 land 33. In each set of brackets i-s located an langled cam plate 35 which acts to move the gui-de plates 30 and 31 rightwardly las viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 when `the frame and plate lare lowered into the recess 18. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the guide plates 30 and 31 have urged the iframe 16 `and the plate 15' away from a plurality of front stakes 36 against which a pile of sheets 37 normally rests when in the proper feeding position illustrated in FIG. 3. It can also be seen from FIG.

2 that the cable 26 and the other cables which support the frame 16 are inclined slightly to permit gravitational pull to lurge the pile and frame to the left when the frame is again raised from the recess 18. In normal practice the cables will still be inclined somewhat when the pile is already resting against 4front stakes 36 to continuously urge the pile 37 thereagainst.

The pile of sheets 37 on its skid 38 may be moved into position on the plate by means of a hand or fork lift truck ywhen Ithe frame is in its lowermost position in the recess 18. At this time the plate 15 will be supported on its legs 17 in the bottom of the recess. The pile 37 may be positioned upon the plate 15 by entering from either side or from the rear of the pile feeder. When located on the plate 15, the front edge of the pile is preferably flush with or slightly overhanging the front edge of the plate. Accordingly, when the pile is in its proper position on the plate, the hoisting mechanism may cause the cables 24--27 to raise Ithe frame until the rollers 2S engage the bottom side of the plate 15 to lift the legs -17 of the plate 15 `from the lbottom of the recess 18. During this upward movement, the guide plates and 31 working in `the slots 32 and 33 will move leftwardly as permitted by the cam plates 35 through the gravitational urging of the pile, frame, etc. until the front edge of the pile 37 enga-ges and rests .against the front stakes 36. The front stakes 36 may be of any conventional type and are therefore not shown -in any great detail. The pile is raised additionally until the top thereof is locate-d in its proper position for the feeding of sheets. At this time, the operator is able to determine whether or not the pile must be positioned to the right or left for proper feeding. If yit is found that the pile must be moved in one direction or the other, the operator will turn a handwheel 39 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) to 4turn a screw 40 in a nut 41. The nut 41 is preferably mounted in and fixed to a depending bracket 42 fastened to the underside of the plate l5. The screw has near its end opposite the wheel 39 a pair tof conventional thrust bearings 43 and 44 which restrain the screw 40 against endwise movement with respect to a U-shaped bracket 4S fixed to the channel 21 of the `frame 16. Rotation of the handwheel 39 therefore translates rotation of the screw to an en'dwise movement of the plate 15 relative to the frame 16. Being supported by the rollers 23, the plate will ride over these rollers until the pile 37 is properly positioned transversely in fthe pile feeder for the feeding of sheets therefrom. During such sidewise adjustment, the follower rollers 29 guide the plate 15 to prevent it from skewing as mentioned previously.

According to certain novel features of the invention, it is desired to always restore the plate 15 to a centrally located position with respect to the pile feeder whenever the frame 'and plate are lowered -to receive a new pile of sheets after the previous pile has been depleted. To accomplish this end, an angle member 46 is mounted adjacent each corner of the recess 18 at the sides thereof. (See FIGS. 1 and 5). These members 46 are inclined inwardly and downwardly with respect to the recess and act as stationary cams for centering the plate 15 sidewise in the recess `when the frame is lowered therein. Cooperating with each of the angle members 46 is a cam follower member 47 in the form of a triangular plate welded between the underside of the plate 15 and the outermost ones of the legs 17. As the frame 16 is lowered into the recess, the frame will be urged rearwardly with respect to the pile feeder by the angle cam plates 35 and at the same time will be centrally positioned by cooperationl of the angle members 46 and the followers 47. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the angle members 46 are of a width suiiicient to allow movement of the frame from front to rear while maintaining contact between the followers 47 and the members 46.

Assuming that a conventional screw and nut ,were

used for sidewise adjustment, it can be seen that thc cam action between the angle members 46 and followers 47 would not readily act to restore the plate to a center or middle position. Accordingly, we prefer to use a ball bearing screw and nut arrangement of the type shown in FG. 6. Such an larrangement permits the screw to rotate in the nut while the `nut is held stationary when relatively torque-free and thrust is applied to the screw. 'Ehe thrust bearings 43 and 44 enable the screw 4G to rotate easily in the nut. Therefore, as the plate 15 is camrned sidewise when the frame 16 is lowered into the recess, the end Ithrust applied to the screw 40 by movement of the plate 15 will permit the screw 40 to rotate freely in the nut. In this fashion, the handwhcel 39 and screw 40 will be returned to their original condition in which the same amount of sidewise adjustment on either side of the center position can be applied to the plate 15 for the next pile to be fed.

Referring lnow to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the frame 16 can be lowered a slight distance after the legs 17 of the plate 15 are supporting the plate in the recess. At such time, the rollers 28 separate from the bottom of the plate 15. Since the screw 40 and nut 41 interconnect the frame and plate which may be relatively separable in a vertical direction, a yieldable connection, e.g. a lost motion connection, is provided to facilitate the separation of the frame and plate. This can be accomplished in a variety of `ways but is shown simply with the U-shaped bracket enabling the slot thereof to permit lowering of the bracket 45 relative to the screw when the frame 16 lowers beyond the level of the plate 15. At this time, the thrust bearings 43 and 44 will maintain the parts in their proper position ibut enable the yielding between the frame and plate.

The rollers 28 may be supported in `any fashion in the channels of the frame 16, but are shown simply here as having snap-in type journals 48 which are spring urged outwardly of the rollers 23 and have at their ends turneddown portions 49 with flats thereon as can be seen in FIG. 4. These portions 49 snap into corresponding notches in the respective channels of the frame 16.

Various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In a pile vfeeder for feeding sheets to a sheet handling machine, a plate having a substantially at horizontal upper surface, a frame adapted to support the plate thereabove, means supporting the frame for up and down movement between upper and lower limits, adjustable means interconnecting the frame and plate Ifor sidewise yadjustment of the plate relative to the frame, and means for automatically centering the plate relative to the frame in a sideways direction and for actuating the adjustable means to a predetermined original condition.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 including means for supporting the plate independently of and spaced above the `frame when the iframe is in its lowermost limit.

3. The invention set forth in claim l including a plurality of legs on the plate, said legs being of a depth suflicient to permit the plate to -be supported on a door independently of the frame by said legs before the frame reaches its lower limit of travel.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1 including stationary cam means engageable with a part sideways movable to move the plate ysidewise for centering upon lowering.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 including camactuated means carried by the plate and cooperating with the stationary cam means.

6. The invention set forth in claim "Z wherein said frame and plate recede into a recess in a floor, said means for supporting the plate independently of the frame also supporting the plate in amanner to present the top thereof at the floor level when the plate is supported independently of the frame in said recess.

7. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein the adjustable means includes a yieldable connection.

8. The invention set forth in claim 7 wherein the yieldable connection is a lost motion connection.

9. The invention set forth in claim 1 in which the adjustable means includes an anti-friction ball bearing nut and screw extending parallel to the plate in the direction of its sidewise adjustment, ysaid nut and screw including means enabling the screw to turn relatively freely in response to axial thrust imparted thereto through the plate by the centering means when the frame is lowered to its lowermost position.

10. In a pile feeder for feeding sheets to a sheet handling machine, the combination of a sidewise adjustable horizontal support, a frame for supporting the support, means supporting the iframe for up and down movement between upper and lower limits, and means for centering the support 'relative to the frame, said last named means being automatically responsive to lowering movement of the frame toward its lower limit.

11. The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein the centering means includes cooperating stationary cam means and cam-actuated means carried by and movable with the support.

12. The invention set forth in claim l1 wherein the frame and support recede int-o a iloor recess when in their lowermost positions, and wherein the cam means is located in the recess and the cam-actuated means is located on the underside of the support.

13. In a pile feeder for feeding sheets to a sheet handling machine, the combination of a plate having la substantially iiat horizontal upper surface and a plurality of legs on the bottom thereof, :a `frame adapted to freely support the plate thereabove for sideways adjustment relative to the frame and to the direction of sheet feed, means supporting the trame for up and down movement between upper and lower limits, said pile feeder being mounted on a floor which has a recess below the plate for receiving the `frame, stationary inwardly and downwardly inclined cam means in the recess, cam-actuated means mounted on a part sideways adjustable with the plate for cooperating with the stationary cam means to center the plate sidewise relative to the frame when the frarne is lowered into the recess, and adjustable means interconnecting the frame and the plate for sidewise adjustment of the plate relative to the frame when both are out of said recess, said adjustable means including self-centering means restored to a predetermined original condition in response to centering movement of the plate relative to the frame when the frame is lowered into the recess.

14. The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein the selfcentering means includes an anti-friction ball bearing nut and screw extending in the direction of sidewise adjustment of the plate, and a torquedfree mounting for said screw, :said screw and nut being restored to their original conditions with respect to each other in response to axial thrust imparted to the screw through the plate while the frame is being lowered into the recess.

15. The invention set forth in :claim 13 wherein the adjustable means includes ia yieldable connection.

`16. The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein the yieldable connection is a lost motion connection.

17. In a pile Ifeeder for feeding sheets to a sheet handling machine, the combination of a pile support having a substantially iiat horizontal upper surface, a frame supporting the support, means supporting the frame for up and down movement between upper and lower limits, said pile feeder being mounted on a iloor which has a recess below the support for receiving the frame, stationary cam means in the recess, cam-actuated means mounted on the pile support for cooperating with the stationary cam means to center the support sidewise relative to the frame Iwhen the frame is lowered into the recess, and adjustable means interconnecting the frame and support for sidewise adjustment of the support relative -to the frame, said adjustable means comprising self-centering means restored to a preframe is lowered int-o the recess.

18. The invention set forth in claim 17 including means yfor supporting the pile support independently of the frame when the frame is at its lower limit in the recess.

19. The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein the self-centering means includes an anti-friction ball bearing nut and screw, and la torque-free mounting for said screw, said screw and nut being restored to their original conditions with respect to each other in response to axial thrust imparted to the screw through the pile support whilethe frame is being lowered into the recess.

20. In a pile feeder for feeding sheets to -a sheet handlin-g machine, the combination of a sidewise adjustable plate having a substantially at horizontal upper surface, a frame adapted to freely support the plate thereabove, means supporting the yframe for up and down movement between upper and lower limits, said pile feeder being vmounted on a -floor which has a recess below the plate for receiving the frame, cooperating guiding means in said recess and on a part sideways adjustable with said plate for centering the plate sidewise relative to the frame when the frame is lowered into the recess, and means restraining the plate within predetermined limits of side adjustment, said guiding means comprising a cam and cam follower for centering the plate relative to the frame when the frame is lowered into the recess.

2.1. The invention set forth in claim 20 including adjustable means interconnecting the frame Iand plate for sidewise adjustment of the plate relative to the frame.

22. The invention set forth in claim 21 wherein the adjustable means includes a self-centering lanti-friction ball bearing nut and screw, and -a torque-free mounting for said screw, said screw and nut being restored to their original conditions with respect to each other in response to axial thrust imparted to the screw through the plate while the frame is being lowered into the recess.

23. In a pile feeder for feeding sheets to a sheet handling machine, the combination of a plate having a substantially flat horizontal upper surface, a frame adapted to support the plate thereabove, means for supporting the frame for up and down movement between upper and lower limits, means interconnecting the frame 'and plate for horizontal adjustment of the plate relative to the frame, and means automatically responsive to lowering movement of the Yframe toward its lower limit for moving the plate to a predetermined position relative to the frame, said yadjustment means comprising means restored to a predetermined original condition in response to automatic movement of the plate.

24. in a pile feeder for feeding sheets in one direction to a sheet-handling machine, the combination of a frame adapted to be raised and lowered between limit positions, a generally horizontally extend-ing pile support supported on said frame vfor sideways adjustment transversely of the direction of sheet feed from a sideways centered position, adjusting means interconnecting said frame and said support and operable to adjust said support sideways in either direction from said centered position, :and means actuatable to automatically return said support to said center position when displaced therefrom, said adjusting means accommodating the centering movement of said support.

25. yIn a pile feeder for feeding sheets in one direction to a sheet-handling machine, the combination of a lframe adapted to be raised and lowered between limit positions, a generally horizontally extending pile support siipported on said frame Ifor sideways adjustment transversely of the direction of sheet feed Kfrom a sideways centered position, adjusting means interconnecting said frame [and said support and operable to adjust said support sideways in either direction from said centered position, and means automatically operable in response to a predetermined event normally occurring during the operation of said feeder to automatically return said support to fa `sideways centered position if displaced therefrom, said adjusting means accommodating said centering movement.

26. In a pile feeder for feeding sheets to a sheet-handling machine, a frame adapted to be raised and lowered between limit positions with the lower limit position being in a recess in the oor supporting said feeder, a generally horizontally extending pile support supported on said frame for sideways adjustment transversely of the direction of sheet feed from a sideways centered position and received in said recess when said frame is in its lower limit position, adjusting means for adjusting said support sideways in either direction from said centered position, and centering means for automatically moving said support to its said centered position and operable prior to the return of said frame from a raised position to its lower limit position to effect a sideways centering of said support, said adjusting means accommodating the centering movement of said support.

27. In a pile feeder lfor feeding sheets to a sheet-handling machine, a frame adapted to be raised and lowered `between limit positions with the lower limit position beport sideways in either direction from said centeredposition, and centering means automatically operable in response to a predetermined event normally occurring during the oper-ation of said feeder prior to the return of said support toits lower limit position from a raised position to effect movement ofsaid support to said centered `position if displaced therefrom, said adjusting means accommodating the movement to center said plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,368 Cross Jan. 2, 1900 1,651,444 Christophel Dec. 6, 1927 2,437,792 Schneider Mar. 16, 1948 2,457,135 Deiters Dec. 28, 1948 2,815,209 Gulick Dec. 3, 1957 2,898,105 Schmidt Aug. 4, 1959 

1. IN A PILE FEEDER FOR FEEDING SHEETS TO A SHEET HANDLING MACHINE, A PLATE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HORIZONTAL UPPER SURFACE, A FRAME ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE PLATE THEREABOVE, MEANS SUPPORTING THE FRAME FOR UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER LIMITS, ADJUSTABLE MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE FRAME AND PLATE FOR SIDEWISE ADJUSTMENT OF THE PLATE RELATIVE TO THE FRAME, AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CENTERING THE PLATE RELATIVE TO THE FRAME IN A SIDEWAYS DIRECTION AND FOR ACTUATING THE ADJUSTABLE MEANS TO A PREDETERMINED ORIGINAL CONDITION. 